On Valentine’s Day weekend and continuing into the following week, cold temperatures will hold a grip on virtually all markets from the Rockies to the East Coast of North America, with most markets trending much below normal, according to business weather intelligence firm Planalytics.

Record snowfall last season spelled trouble for many roofs and parking garage decks. The continuous storms that dumped more than 2 ft. of snow in New England alone had facility owners frantically addressing weight load issues as heavy snow and ice threatened, and in some cases caused, roof and deck top collapses. The fallout: a rise in lawsuits as owners, insurance companies and snow contractors battle over snow and ice procedures followed, or not, in comparison with written contracts.

Solutions Spotlight

To support consumers’ omnichannel shopping behaviors, product information, inventory availability, and customer profile and order information must be current and available throughout the enterprise to enable real-time visibility. In this white paper, you'll learn all about the new demands of a harmonized shopping experience; the new generation of network-centric information systems with access to rich information; and the perceived value of new store-level technology.

Store of the Week

Kleinfeld Hudson’s Bay, a luxurious 14,000-sq.-ft. bridal shop on the top floor of the Hudson’s Bay flagship and headquarters building in Toronto, took the top prize — Store of the Year — in the Association for Retail Environments 2015 Design Award.More...